Particle apportioning devie



July 23, 194s.

M. COHEN Erm. 2,404,694

PARTICLE APPORTIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 23, 1942`:.P\bH/l1l\'u.

July 23, 1946. M. coHEN ETAL 2,404,694

PARTICLE APPORTONING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTICLE APPORTIONING DEVICE Application November 23, 1942, Serial No. 466,614

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a particle apportioning device moreparticularly for edible particles such, for example, as raisins orcurrants, which are introduced into the dough for the making of sweetrolls, raisin bread, or the like, in large commercial bakeries.

While the apportioning of particles of certain types such, for example,as flour, granulated nuts, and similar generally dry materialsencounters relatively few difliculties and these may be introduced bymeans of hoppers. the handling of other types of particles such asraisins involves problems not encountered in the handling of more dryparticles, the raisins, for example, being naturally somewhat sticky andtending to pack together so as to clog any device such as a hopper orother conventional apportioning means wherein the particles are movedlargely under the influence of gravity, with the weight of a quantitythereof constantly pressing upon the particles as they move.

In the present invention, a unitary portable device is provided in whichthe particles are not moved merely by gravity but are maintained incirculation during the apportioning process, partially by gravity andpartially by a positive mechanism therefor, whereby the raisins are keptrelatively dry and loose at all times, and the raisins are finallyapportioned through a variable restricted opening.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying thepresent invention, parts being shown in section for clearness ofdescription, and an associated conveyor device;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, partially in end elevation, taken onthe staggered line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but with the raisin circulationindicated, and looking toward the delivery end of the device, drivingparts being omitted; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the discharge end of theconveyor of the present device and one end of the associated conveyor,indicated also in Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in thedrawings, the unitary device of the present invention is mounted on apedestal designated generally by the numeral I0, having four legs IIwhich terminate at their lower ends in casters I2 whereby the device ismobile. Adjacent their upper ends, the pedestal legs II rotatably carrya pair of shafts I3 and I4, each running from front to rear of thedevice in parallel relation at each side thereof, and each carrying apair of bearing disks I5 and I 6, making four such disks in all. Thebearing disks I5 are here 5 shown carried between the legs I I, and thebearing disks I 6 to the rear of the legs where the shafts I3 and I4there overhang. Resting upon the bearing disks I 5 is a rotatablecylindrical drum I1 held thereon by its weight. The drum here representsa depositing element. Adjacent the forward end of the drum, itsperiphery carries an annular channel piece I8 which receives the bearingdisks I5 and adjacent its rear end a similar annular channel piece I9which receives the bearing disks I6. Thus the drum is guided in itsrotation as presently described and its axial position during rotationis maintained with respect to the pedestal I0.

For driving the drum I1, its periphery may also carry an external ringgear 20 which meshes with a pinion 2l keyed to the shaft I3, this shaftbeing a driving shaft and it is continued forwardly of the legs II toterminate in a bevel gear 22, which meshes with another bevel gear 23keyed to a 25 stub Shaft 24. The stub shaft 24 is rotatably mounted in apair of brackets 25, supported by a platform 26 projecting from theforward end of the pedestal I0. Diagonal braces 21 extending from theplatform to the legs II may reinforce the platform which also provides asupport for an electric motor 28, the output shaft 29 of which is indriving relation by means of chain belt 30 with a sprocket 3| also keyedto the stub shaft 24. Thus, by 'means of the usual electric wiring whichneed not be here shown, the motor 28 may be connected to a source ofelectric power and caused to rotate the drum I1 on the pedestal I0 inthe direction of the arrow 32 (Fig. 2) on la horizontal axis.

40 In accordance with the present invention, the drum surrounds one endof a depository element here represented by the conveyor deviceindicated generally by the numeral 33 and which comprises a frame havingsomewhat triangular side members 34 bolted as at 35 to a cross strut 36connecting the upper ends of the forward legs II of the pedestal I0,which are shown extended upwardly beyond the rear legs to a pointapproximating the axis of the drum I1 and just in front of the forwardend of the drum, the latter having a relatively large axial opening 31in its forward end through which the conveyor 33 extends into theinterior of the drum as well as forwardly thereof. For enhancedstability, the frame side members 34 extend downwardly in front of thecross strut 36 and may be bolted as at 38 to another cross strut 39carried by the legs II below the cross strut 36. At each endrespectively of the frame members 34 are rotatably mounted the usualconveyor rollers` 40 and 4I about which are entrained the endlessconveyor belt 42 of canvas or the like.

The conveyor belt 42 as well as the drum may be driven by the motor 28.In this instance, the roller shaft for the roller 40 is extendedlaterally of the conveyor frame plates 34 to carry a sprocket 43 uponwhichjs entrained an endless chain 44 also entrained with anothersprocket 45 keyed to a stub shaft 45a mounted on the exterior of one ofthe frame members 34. A gear 46 also keyed to this shaft meshes withanother gear 46a similarly mounted upon a stub shaft 46h which has keyedthereon a sprocket 46c. About the latter is entrained an endless chain41 which is also entrained with a sprocket wheel 48 which is keyed tothe stub shaft 24 along with the sprocket 3I and bevel gear 23. Thusrotation of the motor shaft 29 in a direction to rotate the drum I1 inthe direction of the arrow 32 will also move the upper run of theconveyor belt 42 in the direction of the arrow 49.

The inner surface of the drum I1 is provided with a number of formationssuch as the lifter blades 50, three being here shown, which extendlengthwise of the cylindrical part of the drum I1 and project somewhatradially toward the axis of the drum. Forward of the cylindrical portionof the drum, the latter is desirably conical as at I margining the axialopening 31 and providing a guard to prevent particles lifted by theblades from falling through the opening 31. At its rear end, the drumhas a door 52 which is received with a snug t within the angled margin53 of another axial opening in the drum, and which, when the door 52 isremoved, may be employed to deposit raisins or the like into the drumfor disposition as presently described.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the inner end of theconveyor 33 which is received within and surrounded by the drum I1 hasassociated therewith means whereby only some of the particles such asthe raisins deposited in the drum and circulated by the blades 50, fallonto the conveyor, other particles falling back into the drum to berecirculated.

As shown in the drawings, an illustrative element for this purpose hereincludes a peaked hood designated generally by the numeral 54, andcomprising a pair of spaced apart shield elements 55 and 56, which arein the form of inclined plates carried by the conveyor frame members 34just above the inner end of the conveyor 42 as by brackets 51 boltedupon the outer faces of the frame members 34 respectively as at 58 tooverhang the conveyor. The brackets 51 have a vertical portion at whichthey are bolted to the frame and an inwardly directed upwardly anglingportion 59, in which is an elongated slot 60. Through each of the slots60 passes the shank of a short screw-bolt 6I and this passes alsothrough a perforation in the plate 55 or 56 as the case may be. On theupper surface of the plate and threaded on the shank of each of thebolts 6I is a thumbnut 62. Thus the plates 55 and 56 may be adjustablyclamped in position over the conveyor belt 42 normally with alongitudinal space or slot 63 therebetween, providing a restrictedopening on both sides and which is selectively variable as heredisclosed. Preferably the slot 63 is to one side of the peak 65 of thehood 54 and to accomplish this the plate 55 is wider than the plate 56and its outer margin is bent downwardly as at 64, both to form the peak65 and an edge 66 which approaches the edge 61 of the narrower plate 56along a longitudinal line to one side of the longitudinal center line ofthe conveyor 43 but parallel therewith. The sliding adustment hereprovided preserves a substantially uniform inclination for the shieldplates which permits of a very fine stream of raisins for example.

To prevent particles from lodging between the conveyor 42 and the framemembers 34, the latter desirably carry longitudinal angle strips 68, oneangular portion of each of which rests on the upper edge of the frameand the other angular portion of which depends inwardly over the sidemargin of the conveyor belt and into close but non-frictional proximitytherewith.

'I'he operation of the device is as follows:

Having deposited a supply of raisins or the like into the drum I1 as at69 and having replaced the door 52 to close the rear end of the drum,the operator starts the motor 28 thus causing the drum to rotate in thedirection of the arrow 32 and the upper run of the conveyor to move inthe direction of the arrow 49. As the drum rotates,

. some of the raisins which lie loosely in the lower part of the drumare picked up by a blade 50 and carried thereon to the upper part of thedrum. As the blade approaches its zenith, the raisins fall oif therefromunder the influence of gravity as at 10 and in falling strike the hood54. Some of the raisins drop through the slot 63 onto the conveyor belt42, while others, deflected by the hood, fall back into the mass ofraisins 69 in the lower part of the drum to be again picked up by alater oncoming blade 50. Since the raisins falling off a blade as at 10have some momentum due to the rotation of the drum, they will not fallin a straight line but will have a somewhat arcuate trajectory and theslot 63 may be adjusted, by the adjustment means for the plates 55 and56 already referred to, so as to be in this path. Due to various causes,the raisins will not all have the same trajectory, but it has been foundthat a mean arc thereof will pass to the right of the peak 65, lookingat Fig, 2, that is, the proximate side of the hood 54 as the bladesrotate, and through the slot 63 whereby many of the raisins will passthrough the slot onto the belt.

The raisins carried by the conveyor belt 42 travel outwardly of the drumand may fall off the discharge end 1I of the conveyor 33, as here shown,onto a strip of dough 12 moving in the direction of the arrow 13 on anassociated conveyor 14. The dough strip 12 may be produced in flattenedelongated form by means which forms no part of the present invention,but which may be in accordance with the Cohen et al. co-pendingapplication Serial No. 441,580, filed May 4, 1942, and may, after havinghad the raisins deposited thereon in accordance with the pr -sentinvention, be then treated and coiled on a longitudinal axis asdescribed in another co-pending Cohen et al. application, Serial No.429,764, led February 6, 1942, to form bakery sweet rolls or the like.

As shown in Fig. 3, the conveyor 33 is arranged at right-angles to theassociated conveyor 14, and the unitary device of the present inventionmay be disposed in such position with the conveyor 33 overhanging theconveyor 14 at any suitable point along the latter, the ready mobilityof the pedestal III as by the casters I2 making this possible. Furthermore, the particular arrangement of the conveyor 33, supported as itis in cantilever arrangement on the pedestal l0. avoids interferencewith the standard 15 of the associated conveyor 14 and permits it to bereceived in similar cantilever arrangement within the drum l1 at thereceiving end of the conveyor 33.

The sloping or peaked character of the hood 54 provides a deflector forcausing raisins which drop off the blades and which do not fall throughthe slot 63 to fall back into the bottom of the drum and to bere-tumbled, such tumbling contriuting to maintaining the raisins in dryand cool condition.

So arranged and operated, the device of the present invention keeps theraisins constantly circulated so that they do not become heated andsticky by their own mass, thus avoiding agglomerations of the raisinswhich might result in too many raisins in one part of the dough and toofew in another part and providing better and more uniform distributionthereof throughout the dough strip 12.

It will be understood that if a greater number of raisins for a givenlinear distance of the dough strip 12 be desired, the plates 55 and 56may be adjusted farther apart so as to widen the slot B3, and,conversely, if fewer raisins are desired per linear distance, the slotmay be narrowed. In any case, raisins which fall off of a blade 50approaching its zenith and which do not fall through the slotl 63 to theconveyor 42 Will fall back into the lower part of the drum and berecirculated, the peaked character of the hood 54 being of a sufficientdeclivity so as to exceed the angle of rest of the raisins andpreventing lodging of the latter thereon.

The raisins in the bottom of the drum as at 69 are maintained constantlyagitated by thc blades 50 and prevented from objectionable packing whichis common in the use of conical hoppers, screw-conveyors, and the like.

'I'he gearing is desirably so arranged, as here shown, that the linearspeed of the belt 42 is predetermined relatively to the peripheral speedof drum I1. Thus the belt moves a distance equal to the length f a blade50 in the interval of time between which two successive blades approachtheir zenith, so that there are no marked gaps in the sequence of theraisins deposited on the conveyor, or so as to prevent overlap ofsuccessive streams so deposited.

What is here claimed is:

l. In a device of the class described, the .combination with a conveyor,of a pair of spaced apart shield members providing a shield disposedover the conveyor providing a restricted opening between said shieldmembers shielded on both sides thereof vertically aligned with andspaced above said conveyor, a rotatable drum surrounding the conveyorand shield members, blades in the drum for lifting particles disposedtherein from the bottom of the drum to the top thereof and dropping themon said shield, whereby some of said particles pass through said openingonto the conveyor and others may fall back into the drum, means forrotating the drum and operating the conveyor, and means for adjustingthe size of the opening between said shield members to vary the numberof particles disposed on the conveyor during a given period of operationof the device, and to cause a `controlled stream of particles to bedeposited on said conveyor.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a conveyor,of a, pair of spaced apart shield members providing a. shield disposedin the form of a peaked hood over the conveyor providing a restrictedopening therebetween vertically aligned with an spaced above saidconveyor, said opening being to one side of the peak in the hood, arotatable drum surrounding the conveyor and shield members, blades inthe drum for lifting particles disposed therein from the bottom of thedrum to the top thereof and dropping them on said shield, whereby someof said particles pass through said opening onto the conveyor and othersfall back into the drum, means for rotating the drum, means foroperating the conveyor, and means for adjusting the size of the openingbetween said shield members to vary the number of particles disposed onthe conveyor during a given period of operation of the device, whilecausing a controlled stream of particles to be deposited thereon.

3. In a particle apportioning device of the class described, thecombination with a pedestal, of a drum rotatably carried thereon, oneend of said drum having a central opening, a pair of parallel framemembers mounted in cantilever arrangement on the pedestal, one end ofeach frame member extending through said central opening, an endlessconveyor entrained on said frame members, a pair of spaced apart shieldmembers providing a shield disposed in the form of a peaked hood overthe conveyor having a restricted opening therein vertically aligned withand spaced above said conveyor, means for varying the extent ofseparation of said shield members to vary the extent of said lastmentioned opening, blade formations in the drum for lifting particlesdisposed therein from the bottom of the drum to the top thereof anddropping them onto said shield whereby some of the particles fallthrough said opening onto the conveyor and others fall back into thedrum, a platform carried on the pedestal below the conveyor frame, amotor mounted on the platform, power transmission means engaging themotor and the drum and conveyor respectively for causing the motor todrive both the drum and conveyor arranged whereby the belt may move a.distance equal to the length of one of said formations in the intervalof time between which two successive formations approach their zenith,whereby to cause a thin continuous stream of particles to be depositedon said belt and mobilizing means on the pedestal for ready portability.

4. In a particle apportioning device the combination of a longitudinallymovable depository element, a rotary depositing element in verticallyencircling proximity to the depository element and adapted to elevatethe particles and drop them by gravity toward the depository element, adeflecting shield within the rotary element and partially covering thedepository element, said sheld including a pair of shield membersinclined towards each other and extending longitudinally of thedepository element and spaced apart in vertical alignment with saiddepository element, said shield members being arranged at substantiallyfixed inclinations with respect to each other and the depositoryelement, and means for adjusting the distance apart of said shieldmembers, said adjusting means comprising means for sliding at least oneof the shield members toward and away from the other in their inclinedplanes, whereby to maintain the place where they are spaced apart invertical alignment with said depository element while maintaining asubstantially uniform angle for said shield members 7 with respect toeach other and the depository element.

5. In a particle apportioning device the combination of a longitudinallymovable depository element including an endless belt conveyor, a rotarydepositing element in vertically encircling proximity to the depositoryelement, circumferentially equally spaced apart longitudinally elongatedblades on the inner face of said depositing element to elevate theparticles and drop them by gravity toward the depository element, adeflecting shield within the rotary element and partially covering thedepository element to cause a portion of such particles so dropped to bedeected from said depository element, means for rotating said depositingelement and means for moving said depository element arranged wherebythe belt conveyor moves a distance equal to the length of said blades inthe interval of time between which two successive blades reach the samerotative position with respect to the shield whereby to preventsubstantial overlapping of the particle streams on the depositoryelement from successive blades.

6. In a particle apportioning device, the combination of alongitudinally movable depository element, a rotary depositing elementin vertically encircling proximity to the depository element and adaptedto elevate the particles and drop them by gravity toward the depositoryelement, a deflecting shield within the rotary element and partiallycovering the depository element, said shield including a pair of shieldmembers inclined towards each other and extending longitudinally of thedepository element and spaced apart in vertical alignment with saiddepository element, and means for adjusting the distance apart of saidshield members whereby to maintain the place where they are spaced apartin vertical alignment with said depository element while maintaining theinclination of the shield members.

7. In a mobile unitary device of the class described, the combinationwith a. pedestal, of a drum rotatably carried thereon, one end of saiddrum having a central opening of smaller diameter than the over-alldiameter of the drum to provide a conical end for the drum, a framemember mounted in cantilever arrangement on the pedestal and having oneend extending through said central opening and another end projectingtherefrom, an endless belt conveyor entrained on said frame member, adeecting shield carried on said frame with the drum and disposedpartially over the conveyor longitudinally thereof, said shieldcomprising a pair of shield members inclined toward each other andspaced apart to provide a restricted opening therebetween in verticalalignment with said conveyor adjacent the longitudinal center linethereof, formations in the drum for lifting particles disposed thereinfrom the bottom of the drum to the top thereof and dropping them towardthe conveyor and shield whereby some of the particles fall onto theconveyor and others are deflected back into the drum, mounting meanscarried on the pedestal below the conveyor frame, a. motor mounted onsaid mounting means, and power transmission mechanism carried by thepedestal engaging the motor, drum, and conveyor respectively for causingthe motor to drive both the drum and conveyor, said drum resting bygravity on said pedestal in position to engage said mechanism and beingreadily separable therefrom. MORRIS COHEN. GERALD A. JORGENSON.

